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BOSTON (Ticker) - Pedro Martinez reportedly is leaving Red Sox Nation for the lore of a guarantee.
The Boston Herald reported Monday afternoon that Martinez, the premier pitcher available on the free agent market, is expected leave the Red Sox and sign with the New York Mets.
According to the report, the Mets swayed the three-time Cy Young Award winner by guaranteeing him a fourth year on his contract, something the Red Sox reportedly would not do. The Mets deal reportedly is worth $56 million.
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Neither the Mets nor the Red Sox could confirm the report.
Martinez always had professed his fondness for pitching in Boston, where he won two of his Cy Youngs and was an integral part of the Red Sox's first championship team in 86 years.
Not the dominant pitcher he once was, Martinez went 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA - the highest ERA of his career - this past season in helping the Red Sox to their first World Series title since 1918.
After anchoring the Red Sox's staff since his arrival in 1998, Martinez gave up the title of "staff ace" last season to Curt Schilling.
Martinez's best postseason performance came in Game Three of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals when he pitched seven scoreless innings, putting the Red Sox on the brink of their championship.
Martinez, 33, has gone an astounding 117-37 in seven seasons with the Red Sox. He won Cy Young Awards in 1999 and 2000, when he went a combined 41-10 with a 1.90 ERA.
Signing Martinez would be a major move for the Mets, who have been criticized in recent years for not aggressively pursuing stars such as Vladimir Guerrero and Alex Rodriguez.
In New York, Martinez would be the ace of a rotation that also includes Kris Benson, Tom Glavine, Steve Trachsel and Victor Zambrano.
Losing Martinez also would be a major blow for the Red Sox, who reportedly lost out in the Carl Pavano sweepstakes to the rival New York Yankees. Boston did sign 41-year-old lefthander David Wells but is not expected to re-sign Derek Lowe, who won all three clinching games in the postseason.
The Red Sox reportedly have been pursuing Oakland's Tim Hudson and Florida's A.J. Burnett for their rotation.
Martinez began his career in the National League with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992 before moving to Montreal for four seasons. He won his first Cy Young with the Expos in 1997.
A six-time All-Star, Martinez owns a career record of 182-76 with a 2.71 ERA and 2,653 strikeouts in 388 games. -
damn that sucks I really thought he was gonna stayComment
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As a Mets fan I am not sure how I feel about this signing. NY fans are not the type to deal with babies and give special treatment to high paid super stars.
If he does well we will olove his ass, if he bombs peoapl will be chanting whos your daddy at Shea all the time.
~ed~Comment
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http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1946275
Martinez still has to pass a physical
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Pedro Martinez confirmed Tuesday that he has agreed to join the New York Mets.
"I only hope to honor my contract and to fulfill the expectations," Martinez said on television in the Dominican Republic. "We got what we wanted. The team and I are happy with everything."
Martinez's agent, Fernando Cuza, told the Mets on Monday that he would attempt to work out a deal with them after New York guaranteed a fourth year, a person involved in the talks said on condition of anonymity.
The deal for the pitcher who helped Boston win the World Series will be worth at least $50 million.
"The bigger the contract, the bigger the responsibility," Martinez said.
Martinez said the sides still must determine the distribution of the money, and that he needs to pass a physical.
New York has not announced the deal, choosing to wait until an agreement is signed and the physical is passed.
Martinez had spent the past seven seasons with the Red Sox.
"My heart will always be with the Boston fans. I hope that everyone who truly loves me will still support me now that I won't be with the Red Sox," the three-time Cy Young winner said.
For once, the Mets and new general manager Omar Minaya snatched the spotlight from the star-studded Yankees across town by making the biggest splash at baseball's winter meetings, which ended Monday with many top players still searching for teams.
Minaya expressed confidence about the negotiations with Martinez, but wouldn't detail the discussions.
"The good news is that we're still in dialogue," Minaya said. "Every day that goes by and we are having dialogue is a good day."
Minaya then returned to New York, and the sides will work by telephone to finalize the contract language. Cuza did not want to comment on the talks.
Martinez helped pitch Boston to its first World Series title since 1918, but Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said he refused to increase the team's offer in the past two days.
"We wish Pedro nothing but the best going forward both on the field and off the field," Boston owner John Henry said in an e-mail. "He pitched with every ounce of his being for the Red Sox over the course of 216 games. Some of those performances were among the most memorable in Red Sox history. Who will ever forget the 1999 All-Star game? He has earned everything that he has accomplished, including his World Series ring and his reputation as one of the greatest who ever lived."
Martinez, 33, would join a rotation that includes two-time Cy Young winner Tom Glavine, Kris Benson, Steve Trachsel and Victor Zambrano. The Mets lost starter Al Leiter to Florida.
Boston's final proposal was a $40.5 million, three-year deal that contained a club option for 2008, a baseball official said, also on condition of anonymity. The Red Sox thought the Mets' offer was for $56 million over four years, the official said, but a Mets official said that figure was not correct.
"We put our best foot forward and made an offer that makes sense to the club," Epstein said. "We think it's a fair and generous offer."
Martinez's departure leaves the Red Sox to defend their title with a rotation that currently includes Curt Schilling, Wells, Tim Wakefield and Bronson Arroyo. Schilling said Tuesday his injured foot will not be ready for him to pitch by opening day.Comment
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I can see Pedro possibly being worth the money next season if he stays healthy, and just maybe the season after that. But I can't see him being anything but an albatross around the neck of the Mets in seasons 3 and 4. No way does a power pitcher his age with a bad wing keep it together that long.Comment
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Well with Pedro going to the Mets looks like the Cubs aren't gonna be able to unload Sosa to them. :(Comment
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